Safety watchdog urges full Takata air bag recall in US

WASHINGTON (AFP) – US safety regulators pushed Tuesday for a nationwide recall of cars with defective Takata air bags, increasing the pressure on both the Japanese firm and automakers ahead of a Senate hearing into the deadly problem.

An earlier recall limited to several mostly southern US states needed to be expanded to the full country, said David Friedman, deputy administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“We now know that millions of vehicles must be recalled to address defective Takata air bags and our aggressive investigation is far from over,” said Friedman.

“We’re pushing Takata and all affected manufacturers to issue the recall and to ensure the recalls capture the full scope of the problems.”

The agency warned that if Takata and the manufacturers do not quickly make the recall voluntarily, it will use its powers to force one.

Japanese auto parts maker Takata’s infant car seat is displayed at an auto parts shop in Tokyo on Nov 19. US safety regulators pushed for a nationwide recall of cars with defective Takata air bags, increasing the pressure on both the Japanese firm and automakers ahead of a Senate hearing into the deadly problem – AFP

One month ago the NHTSA issued a warning over 7.8 million cars in the United States with the air bags.

On Tuesday it also ordered Takata – subject of a US criminal investigation into its exploding air bags – to provide documents and other detailed information on the propellant used in its air bag inflators.

“In recent days, Takata has publicly conceded that it changed the chemical mix of its air bag inflator propellant in newly designed inflators,” the NHTSA said.

“As part of its ongoing investigation, the agency will analyse the information received to determine if the chemical composition of Takata’s propellant mix may be a cause and/or contributing factor in the air bag inflator ruptures.”

US Senator Claire McCaskill, who is the chairman of the panel on consumer protection, supported a nationwide recall, and said if auto manufacturers did not comply she was in favour of forced measures.

“The confusion surrounding this air bag defect has gone on for too long,” she said.

“Today’s announcement is overdue but welcome, and it’s my hope that Takata and the other automakers that haven’t yet done so will quickly agree to NHTSA’s request – if they don’t, regulators should force a mandatory national recall.”

The ratcheting up of pressure on Takata comes ahead of a Senate hearing Thursday at which top officials from Takata, Honda and Chrysler are scheduled to testify on the defect, blamed for several deaths and numerous injuries in the United States and elsewhere.

Friedman will also testify, with the agency facing growing calls to explain why recalls so far have been limited to only several US states.

In contrast, about 16 million cars worldwide from 10 automakers have been recalled over the defect.